11x is just unassigned infantry. I guess I could have ended up as an 11B or 11C. My ASVAB score was really high as well. I guess that might have had something to do with it, but I don't really know. Point being, I had a great experience with my recruiter. His 1SG was a dickhead, but that's a different story.

Unless you're a scumbag, you should ignore this post.

40K for college used to be the standard montgomery GI bill award. It's more than doubled since then. I got a bonus as well as the montgomery GI Bill, which then turned into the post 9/11 GI bill. Actually, every single servicemember now gets the expanded GI bill, and you don't even have to pay into it anymore. I guess if you're stupid enough to completely misfile your paperwork, or get yourself dishonorably discharged before serving 3 years, you could end up screwing yourself out of this, but otherwise, it's guaranteed. I definitely don't believe the military is for everyone, but I wouldn't listen to this tool.

Screw you I was 17, I did what my recruiter told me would get me in. And it was a 40k bonus, not the GI bill.

And I'm about as far from a scumbag as anyone can truthfully claim to be. You don't know me.

Or is a mistake when I was 14 make me a scumbag forever?

OP,

Remember, how much is your life worth?

7/15/2010 11:36am,

apollyondestrud

Thank you everyone for your invaluable advice and personal insight. You've all been considerably helpful.

From what's been said, I CAN back out after signing at the last minute if my recruiter's 1SG was BSing me, but something about ignoring a signed contract doesn't sit well with me, so I don't want to go this route.

Sept. 30th has a chance of new spots opening. If they want me, they'll get me one. If not, they'll just have to call me when they can.

Also, post 9/30 if my local recruiter can't get that position I shop around to others in the area and see if they have a spot open.

If I've exhausted all possible options and still come up empty handed I'll turn my attention to the Navy and start looking at becoming a Corpsman.

Lastly, as I was filling out my MEPS paperwork three things stood out that my recruiter told me to ignore:
1.) Childhood asthma. Haven't seen it in over a decade, was told to leave it off the paperwork.
2.) Had a concussion in high school resulting in a brief loss of consciousness. Was told to leave it off the paperwork.
3.) Had corrective eye surgery as a child WAY back in the day (MEPS asks for any eye surgery to be listed). This one bothers me particularly because I also have less than perfect vision, and they may see a relation.

All of these have medical records floating around, and while it may not matter anymore, it's still falsifying information....

And guys, this has been a greatly helpful thread. Let's not turn it into a pissing contest, 'kay?

AOD: You were 17 and a recruiter fucked you. Sorry. I'm 25 and I've dealt with enough folks in the work force to know you never trust someone that has something to gain, hence this thread.

Not so sweet memories… it has been more than twenty-five years since that fateful July morning I was being driven into the regional Armed Forces Depot to take the physical in the morning and then the oath in the afternoon to enlist – with a free lunch thrown from Uncle Sam to boot!

And the ONLY stress on my mind was which one of the two technical (vocational) MOS I had wanted would I have to choose that day – for each had its own merits. Alas my world was shattered when the depot recruiter looked up at me – sighed deeply - and began the lines of bullshit and mind games.

“Oh, the computer down at boot camp will have the most up-to-date listings… etc.” “We always need more MPs – but your field - well - there are just only so many openings.” Basically they wanted me to sign a non-specified enlistment term of four years or as a compromise - sign a “MOS grouping type enlistment” - i.e., “Mechanical MOS group” which was a greatly varied listing from low-skill jobs to high-skill specialists. Then he (foolishly) let me go through the folder of my paperwork and I discovered a hand-written note from my local recruiter – regarding having to get me to enlist immediately to meet quota – as opposed to a delayed entry in November – which was always an agreed upon date in face-to-face conversations.

LIARS ALL!

Then I became I pariah to them - because I had answered yes to an overnight hospitalization question – thus I passed the physical – but was placed in a temporary hold status. The mind games had to stop – and I walked out and went on with my life.

7/19/2010 12:15am,

3moose1

Well, like other people said, go to other branches if you want a Medical Job. Navy is always looking for Corpsman, though don't believe him when he says there are a shitload of chicks at your MOS school. There isn't.

From what I've heard, you can back out up and to the day you leave for boot camp. I could be wrong, that's just what I heard today from some guy who knows more about poolees then I do.

Don't be an idiot. Signing, hoping to renegotiate and etc is retarded. Get the **** you want forthright, or tell him to **** off. (Nicely.) And keep in mind, like has been mentioned, that ALL branches are drawing down, as pretty much everyone is OVER congress-mandated strength. (which perplexes me, because I've never seen a platoon/company/battalion at T.O strength.)

EDIT: Saw you thought Corpsman. They come outta school knowing more then an Army doc, but I believe Army docs get the ability to go to more schools and such then Corpsman. I could be completely wrong, though.

But if you do be a Corpsman, try to go Greenside as quickly as possible. Being a HN on the Navy side means you're stuck in a friggen hospital giving flu shot's to some Chief's wife.

7/19/2010 9:42am,

Cassius

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollyondestrud

Thank you everyone for your invaluable advice and personal insight. You've all been considerably helpful.

From what's been said, I CAN back out after signing at the last minute if my recruiter's 1SG was BSing me, but something about ignoring a signed contract doesn't sit well with me, so I don't want to go this route.

Sept. 30th has a chance of new spots opening. If they want me, they'll get me one. If not, they'll just have to call me when they can.

Also, post 9/30 if my local recruiter can't get that position I shop around to others in the area and see if they have a spot open.

If I've exhausted all possible options and still come up empty handed I'll turn my attention to the Navy and start looking at becoming a Corpsman.

Lastly, as I was filling out my MEPS paperwork three things stood out that my recruiter told me to ignore:
1.) Childhood asthma. Haven't seen it in over a decade, was told to leave it off the paperwork.
2.) Had a concussion in high school resulting in a brief loss of consciousness. Was told to leave it off the paperwork.
3.) Had corrective eye surgery as a child WAY back in the day (MEPS asks for any eye surgery to be listed). This one bothers me particularly because I also have less than perfect vision, and they may see a relation.

All of these have medical records floating around, and while it may not matter anymore, it's still falsifying information....

And guys, this has been a greatly helpful thread. Let's not turn it into a pissing contest, 'kay?

AOD: You were 17 and a recruiter fucked you. Sorry. I'm 25 and I've dealt with enough folks in the work force to know you never trust someone that has something to gain, hence this thread.

I would advise you not to lie about your medical history. I realize it's a pain in the ass, because you're going to have to get waivers for some of the stuff, but you can end up fucking yourself royally if you don't.

The childhood asthma and concussion probably aren't a big deal, but ABSOLUTELY DO NOT lie about eye surgery. You're definitely going to have to get a waiver for that, but lying there will end up fucking you for one of several reasons:

1.) If you end up qualifying for PRK while in the service, a doctor will catch it and it will complicate things.
2.) If you eventually end up trying to go anywhere in SOCOM, you'll likely end up getting caught, and not having a waiver ready will cause problems beforehand (this is especially important if you want to go to any of the "cool" schools, or become a SEAL, go SF, etc.
3.) If your eyes end up getting messed up, it will get caught and the military will **** you out of disability.

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, LIE ABOUT YOUR EYE SURGERY.

In summation: Your other injuries/illnesses aren't a big deal BUT DON'T LIE ABOUT YOUR EYE SURGERY.

7/19/2010 10:05am,

3moose1

^listen to this guy, about anything and everything.

7/19/2010 11:01am,

Cougar Spirit

Concur with Cassius.

7/19/2010 12:11pm,

omoplatypus

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3moose1

But if you do be a Corpsman, try to go Greenside as quickly as possible. Being a HN on the Navy side means you're stuck in a friggen hospital giving flu shot's to some Chief's wife.

even worse job than that, the mongomery alabama meps had a corpsman "administering" the piss tests.

every day he looked at a thousand peckers. what a way to impress your kid's classmates on career day....

7/20/2010 11:51am,

vigilus

Or you could lie to them about your eyes and say well recruiters lie to people all the time. They love when you call them on **** like that.